Cigar-box.



V. GRECO.

CIGAR BOX.

APPLICATION FILED 00125. I915.

1,201,576. Patented Oct; 17,1916.

WITNESSES.

Ax/9M k K ZL 7 4 15,4, 1 /VWFZM ATTORNEY IINTTED STATES VICTOR GREGG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CIGAR-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

Application filed October 25, 1915. Serial No. 57,753.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Vic/r01: GRnoo, a subject of the King of Italy, but who have declared my intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, residing in New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigar-Boxes, of which the following is a specification. -'The present invention has reference to cigar boxes, and it proposes, briefly, certain improvements, hereinafter fully described, in or relating to the construction of a receptacle of the class specified in such a way that the contents thereof are constantly maintained in the desired condition, and are open to inspection at all times and from all sides without necessitating the opening of the receptacle, both of these results being obtained while still preserving for the receptacle the usual characteristic appearance of a Cigar box.

The invention also contemplates a cigar box possessing the above-mentioned and other features, which is especially designed for what is known as the box trade, and which may be constructed at a relatively low cost and without requiring the employment of special or complicated machinery.

According to the invention, the improved cigar box comprisesan outer receptacle or case, constructed of the wood of which cigar boxes are ordinarily made, and having the same shape and substantially the same size or sizes as such boxes, and an open-topped inner receptacle which fits conformably within the outer receptacle and is completely removable therefrom. The inner receptacle is constructed of transparent glass, so as to enable its entire contents to be inspected from all sides through elongated, slot-like sight openings provided in the sides, ends and bottom of the wooden outer case, the usual top of the latter being also cut away and equipped with a glass panel which conforms to the size and shape of the said inner receptacle and is designed to close the same in an air-tight manner. In this way, the cigars within the inner receptacle are preserved in approximately the condition in which they are originally packed therein, owing to the air-tight closing of said receptacle, and to its imperviousness to moisture; and for the same reason, the cigars will be originally packed, and subsequently maintained, in a more sanitary condition than is possible with the cigar boxes now in use, since the construction of the receptacle of glass enables it to be kept thoroughly'clean both before being filled, and thereafter when handled. Finally, the danger of damaged or otherwise inferior cigars being introduced at the bottom of the box is completely prevented, inasmuch as the contents of the box can be readily inspected from all points.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in Which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved box. Fig. 2 is a vertical, transverse section thereof. Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, but showing a slight modification.

Referring more particularly to said drawing, the cigar box therein represented, consists, as shown, of structurally separate,

outer and inner receptacles, indicated, generally, by the numerals 5 and 6, and constructed, respectively, as previously stated, of cedarw'ood and glass. The inner receptacle 6 has the rectangular shape usual to cigar boxes, and likewise, the usual size thereof, such size being dependent, of course, upon that of the particular brand or style of cigars with which the box is to be filled; while the outer receptacle or case 5 has the same shape as, but a slightly larger size than, the said inner receptacle, so as to enable the latter to fit therein and, also, to be readily and quickly removed therefrom when desired.

The outer receptacle comprises side and end members 7, 7 and 8, 8, a bottom member 9','and a hinged top or cover 10, all as is usual, the parts 7, 7 and 8, 8 being formed with elongated, relatively-wide slots 11, 11

and 12, 12, whose end portions are rounded,

as shown, for the purpose of rendering the appearance of the box more attractive; while, similarly, the part 9 is cut away to provide a substantially-rectangular, relatively-wide opening 13. The top 10 is cut away in the same manner, to provide an opening 14, but this opening is backed by a rectangular glass panel 15, which is fastened in some suitable way to the said top and is disposed against the under or inner face thereof. The inner receptacle consists, in like manner, of side and end members 16, 16 and 17, 17, and a bottom member 18, which parts, as will be understood, are dis posed opposite the corresponding parts of the outer receptacle and are, therefore, exposed through the sight openings therein.

The panel 15, above referred to, forms a closure for the inner receptacle when the top or cover 10 is closed, and, hence, is made of such a size that its edge faces are flush with the outer faces of the corresponding parts or members of the inner receptacle. Said panel is designed to close the inner receptacle in an air-tight manner, for the purpose previously stated; and to effect the air-tight closing, rubber packing or the like is interposed between the upper edge faces of the side and end members of the inner receptacle and the under face of the panel. The packing may be secured either to said panel, or to the receptacle itself, and in either instance its attachment may be obtained in any desired manner. Thus, in Fig. 2, the packing is represented as in the nature of one or more flat rubber strips 19, cemented or otherwise fastened to the face of the'panel at the marginal portions thereof, so as to contact with the edge faces of the receptacle members when the cover is closed; while in Fig. 3, itis shown as consisting of a rubber cord 20 which is fastened in place in a continuous, semi-circular groove 21, formed in the aforesaid edge faces of the receptacle members, the diameter of the cord being appreciably greater than the depth of the groove. Other and different dispositions of the packing may, also, be followed, if preferred: but in any case, the disposition must be such that the weight of the glass panel, plus that of the cover 10, will be imposed directly upon the packing when the cover is closed, so as to produce the required air-tight joint. In addition to this function, the packing also acts as a cushion or buffer to break the impact of the cover against the inner receptacle when forcibly closed; and the said inner receptacle may be further cushioned and raised slightly, above the bottom of the outer receptacle, if desired, by means of small caps. or disks 22 of rubber or other suitable, yielding material, which are interposed between the-opposed bottom members of the inner and outer receptacles at their corners, and may be secured to either of such members.

The advantages of the present construction are believed to be apparent from the foregoing, for which reasonit is deemed unnecessary to repeat them in detail. But it may. be stated that owing to such construction, the entrance of dust or other foreign matter,.as well as moisture, into the box is rendered impossible when the cover is closed, and that for the same reason the cigars are prevented from drying out. Moreover, the box can be turned over endwise or sidewise, and its contents may be inspected from all points, so that the buyer may assure himself,

before purchasing, of the character and condition of the cigars, as well as the condition of the inner receptacle; and, after purchase, he may readily remove the said inner receptacle either to pass around the cigars which it contains, or to clean it. Furthermore, and this is of very considerable importance to fastidious smokers, the box as a whole maintains the usual appearance of a cigar box, or, in other words, looks like av cigar box, instead of like merely an ornamental receptacle which is as suitable for containing one kind of articles as another, this being due to the fact that the outer receptacle or case is constructedof the same wood as cigar boxes are ordinarily made of, and possesses the same shape and general size as an ordinary cigar box.

I am aware that receptacles of various other types have been constructed with glass bodies and with slotted outer covers, but in such cases, the receptacles are primarily designed as holders for liquids, such asoil, liquors, etc, and are made trans parent merely to enable the level. of the liquid to be ascertained through the slots or sight openings, the outer cover or case being usually made of metal and serving primarily to protect the glass body or holder against breakage.

I am also aware that boxes constructed entirely of glass have been made for one purpose or another; and that cartons, made of pasteboard or other sheet material have been constructed with sight openings and with openings for air circulation.

I disclaim any and all of such constructions both broadly. and specifically, on the ground that my invention is primarily a cigar box, possessing as such the usual size and shape of such articles and having the appearance characteristic thereof, the improvements embodied in the invention being designed for the express purpose of overcoming certain defects. present in cigar boxes as ordinarily constructed, and for the further purpose of providing certain advantages which are ordinarily lacking therein.

I claim as my invention:

1. A cigar box comprising a rectangular, wooden outer receptacle or case, having a hinged cover; and an open-topped, glass inner receptacle for containing the cigars, forming a permanent part of the cigar box and fitting conformably within said case but removable bodily therefrom, said-cover having its central portion cut. away and being provided with a glass panel which is disposed opposite such cut-away. portion and is designed to close theopen top of said glass receptacle when said cover is closed, and said case having its component members formed with sight openings which lie opposite the corresponding members of said glass receptacle, whereby the box may be turned over to permit inspection of the cigars from all sides.

2. A cigar box comprising a rectangular,

wooden outer receptacle or case having a hinged cover whose central portion is cut away; a glass panel secured against the inner face of said cover opposite the cutaway portion thereof; an open-topped glass inner receptacle for containing the cigars, forming a permanent part of the cigar box and fitting conformably within said case but removable bodily therefrom, said case having each of its component members formed with a sight opening which lies opposite the corresponding member of said glass receptacle, and said panel having its marginal portions arranged to lie directly opposite the upper edge faces of said glass receptacle members, so as to close the open top of said glass receptacle when said cover is closed, whereby the cigars may be inspected from all sides through the exposed portions of said glass receptacle members and said panel; and means forming a continuous airtight joint between said panel and said glass receptacle when said cover is closed.

VICTOR GRECO.

Copies of this patent may. be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

